Chelsea ‘close’ to agreeing another RECORD-BREAKING deal
According to sources from Belgium, Chelsea and KRC Genk are close to signing goalkeeper Mike Penders.
According to HLN, the Blues have apparently been after Penders for a number of months and are almost certain to sign the teenager for a €20 million down payment.
Penders will stay on loan at Genk for the 2024–2025 season, and the agreement is anticipated to include considerable bonus payments and a sell-on clause.
He is going to become the joint most expensive goalkeeper to ever leave the Belgian top division when he signs a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge.
The current holder of that record is Bart Verbruggen, who joined Brighton & Hove Albion from Anderlecht for €20m last summer. Although the pair will become joint-holders of the record this summer, Verbruggen will be usurped by Penders if Chelsea are forced to pay any bonuses.
The Belgium youth international, who turns 19 on Wednesday, made his first-team debut for Genk in the opening match of the new campaign against Standard Liege on Sunday.
Penders kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw, although he was only forced into one save during the entire match.
The west London club are also on the verge of signing Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. The Denmark U21 international has completed his medical and will join the club ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Djordje Petrovic could leave the club this summer, while Robert Sanchez is expected to compete with Jorgensen for the number one berth.
In total, Chelsea have already signed three new goalkeepers since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took charge in 2022, and Jorgensen and Penders will take that tally to five.